Polymeric stents and other surgical articles

Abstract

A biocompatible non-memory expandable polymeric article selected from stents, implantable prostheses, catheters, other surgical articles and sealants for implantable prostheses, and which is at least in part biodegradable and includes a combination where hollow cylindrical element ( 2 ) is depicted in cutaway form to reveal helical element ( 4 ), terminated schematically at ( 6 ) and where a combination of at least one thermoplastic elastomeric component and at least one thermoplastic non-elastomeric component, the article being either porous articles or having the potential to become porous by action of body fluids in situ), the thermoplastic non-elastomeric component being present in such an amount as will provide mechanical strength and rigidity to the article when in an expanded mode.

1. A biocompatible non-memory expandable polymeric stent containing one helical element only and a hollow cylindrical element, wherein said helical element is adapted to be encased within the hollow part of said cylindrical element, and wherein said stent is adapted to be positioned in a body lumen, is at least in part biodegradable and includes a combination of at least one thermoplastic elastomeric polymer and at least one thermoplastic non-elastomeric polymer that has a glass transition temperature greater than 40° C., said stent being selected from the group of porous stents and stents that have a potential to become porous by action of body fluids in situ, said thermoplastic non-elastomeric polymer being present in such an amount as will provide mechanical strength and rigidity to the stent when in an expanded mode, and wherein said hollow cylindrical element is formed from said elastomeric polymer, and said one helical element is formed from said non-elastomeric polymer that is substantially biodegradable and said stent is adapted to provide necessary mechanical support at the lumen surface. 
   
   
     2. A stent according to  claim 1 , further characterized by at least one of:
 at least one of said discrete elements is adapted for drug delivery in situ; 
 said thermoplastic elastomeric polymer includes hard and soft segments and optionally comprises a block copolymer;
 said hollow cylindrical element is also substantially biodegradable. 
 
 
   
   
     3. A stent according to  claim 1 , wherein said thermoplastic elastomeric polymer includes hard and soft segments and comprises a block copolymer which has a structure selected from the group consisting of (AB) n , (AB) n A, B(AB) n  and ABC, where A is said at least one elastomeric segment, B is said at least one non-elastomeric segment, C is a different elastomeric or non-elastomeric segment, and n is a predetermined integer greater than or equal to one.